Socioeconomic Impacts of Tourism on the Rural People of Azad Kashmir Region

Abstract

This study evaluates the socio-economic impacts of tourism on the people of village Rawalakot situated in Azad Kashmir. The researcher used qualitative research technique for a field data collection. Qualitative research method was adopted for data collection from 20 respondents. The research finding shows that tourism development has significant impact on the lives of people. Tourism created the work opportunities as well as improved infrastructure oj the village. In contrast, tourism also brought some negative economic impacts like increasing land prices, high rent, and high prices of essential commodities. The tourism also encouraged some sociocultural impacts on the people of study areas in the form of changes in family structure, relationship among the community people and dressing style etc. The local community is involved in the tourism activities by their own support. State interference is minimum in providing loan and subsidies for promotion of enterprises related to tourism industry. This study reveals that local community is totally excluded from the policy formulation process and policy makers do not consider the socioeconomic impacts of tourism development on the local community.